Florida 2025 Regular Session Status: In Committee 1 D cosponsors

SB 1040 — Homelessness

Last action — Died in Children, Families, and Elder Affairs

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2025 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Homelessness; Citing this act as the “Homeless Persons Dignity Act”; prohibiting the denial or abridgment of a person’s ability to access public services solely because he or she is homeless; providing that a person experiencing homelessness has specified rights; authorizing a court to award certain relief, damages, and attorney fees and costs to a prevailing plaintiff in certain civil actions, etc.

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

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AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill establishes new protections and rights for individuals experiencing homelessness in Florida.

  • Section 420.621

    (6) “Housing status” means the actual or perceived status of having, not having, or being at risk of not having a fixed, regular, or adequate nighttime residence, which includes, but is not limited to, the status of living in a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings or living in a shelter designated to provide temporary living arrangements.

    Defines 'housing status' to clarify what it means to be homeless.

  • Section 420.6215

    420.6215 Homeless Persons Dignity Act.—(1) The Legislature finds that: (a) No individual should suffer unnecessarily from cold, extreme heat, or hunger, be deprived of shelter, or be deprived of basic rights due to lack of shelter. (b) Many individuals have become homeless as a result of fleeing domestic violence, exiting foster care, experiencing a natural disaster, or facing an ongoing shortage of safe and affordable housing. (c) Persons 13 to 23 years of age are particularly likely to suffer from deprivation of basic rights due to actual or perceived homelessness. (2) A person’s ability to access public services may not be denied or abridged solely because he or she is homeless. A person experiencing homelessness must be provided the same access to public services as any other resident of this state.

    Creates the 'Homeless Persons Dignity Act' which prohibits denial of access to public services based on homelessness.

  • Section 420.6215

    (3) A person experiencing homelessness has the right: (a) To move freely in and use public spaces, including, but not limited to, public sidewalks, public transportation, public restrooms, and public buildings, ordinarily open to the public, without discrimination on the basis of housing status.

    Establishes rights for homeless individuals to freely use public spaces without discrimination.

  • Section 420.6215

    (b) To access safe and clean drinking water, public handwashing facilities, and public electricity sources without discrimination on the basis of housing status.

    Guarantees access to basic utilities without discrimination for those experiencing homelessness.

  • Section 420.6215

    (c) To the Housing First approach to homelessness as provided in s. 420.6275.

    Affirms the right to the Housing First approach, which prioritizes providing stable housing.

  • Section 420.6215

    (d) Not to be subject to civil or criminal penalties for standing, walking, or temporarily sleeping or resting in a public place or vehicle in a nonobstructive manner, with or without tents, sleeping bags, additional clothing, or other supplies intended to make sleep comfortable and possible.

    Protects homeless individuals from penalties for resting in public spaces.

  • Section 420.6215

    (f) To pray, meditate, or practice religion in public spaces without being subject to harassment, arrest, or civil or criminal penalties.

    Secures the right to religious practices for individuals experiencing homelessness.

  • Section 420.6215

    (h) To Internet access and technology that enables Internet access.

    Ensures homeless persons have access to the Internet, which is essential for communication and services.

  • Section 420.6215

    (k) For eligible citizens, to vote, register to vote, and receive any identification documentation necessary to vote without discrimination on the basis of housing status.

    Affirms voting rights without discrimination due to homelessness.

  • Section 420.6215

    (4) In any civil action alleging a violation of this section, the court may award appropriate injunctive and declaratory relief, actual damages, and reasonable attorney fees and costs to a prevailing plaintiff.

    Allows for legal recourse and compensation for individuals who prove their rights have been violated.

Action History

  1. Died in Children, Families, and Elder Affairs

  2. Indefinitely postponed and withdrawn from consideration

  3. Introduced

  4. Referred to Children, Families, and Elder Affairs; Community Affairs; Fiscal Policy

  5. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 163 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (163)

163 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

public-safety housing civil-rights
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 1040 do?
Homelessness; Citing this act as the “Homeless Persons Dignity Act”; prohibiting the denial or abridgment of a person’s ability to access public services solely because he or she is homeless; providing that a person experiencing homelessness has specified rights; authorizing a court to award certain relief, damages, and attorney fees and costs to a prevailing plaintiff in certain civil actions, etc.
Who sponsors SB 1040?
SB 1040 is sponsored by Smith, Carlos Guillermo (Democrat).
What is the current status of SB 1040?
This bill died with 2025 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SB 1040?
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Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

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